Angry youths from Okpanam, in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, staged a protest at the Delta State Government House in Asaba on Thursday, decrying a prolonged blackout imposed by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
The protesters accused BEDC of deliberately cutting off power supply to their community for years, creating an environment where crime—particularly kidnappings—now thrives under the cover of darkness.
In a letter addressed to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and delivered during the protest, the youths also condemned what they described as “exorbitant and unjustified estimated electricity bills,” which they said do not reflect actual power usage.
“The blackout has not only disrupted daily life but has endangered our security and economic well-being,” the letter read. It was signed by President-General of the Okpanam Youth Organization, Comrade Lucky Okolo, Comrade Chukwuma Abumujor, and six others.
They emphasized that despite numerous appeals, BEDC has failed to restore power, choosing instead to exploit residents financially.
“The absence of reliable electricity has crippled essential infrastructure, including security systems, leaving our streets exposed to criminal elements,” the group lamented.
In response, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prince Johnson Erijo, assured the protesters that the government is in the final stages of developing a legislative framework to resolve the persistent power supply challenges in the state.
